DHA Supplement Is Not Required
We are still swimming in the sea of confusion about nutrition on a plant-based vegan diet. Do we need supplements? What about DHA? There has been so much fear mongering over the past months about supplementing with DHA - Docosahexaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina.
In physiological literature, it is given the name 22:6. It can be synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid or obtained directly from maternal milk, fish oil, or algae oil.
This is the best and most honest presentation I have found that Bill and I 100% support. Please watch the video from our good friend Dr. Tim Radak it will answer every question you may have about supplementing with DHA.
We obtain all we need from plants. The only supplement we require is B12. You can also obtain B12 from fortified foods such as nutrition yeast.
Vitamin B12, also called "cobalamin," is one of the eight water-soluble vitamins that play a key role in the metabolism of every cell in the human body, and is especially important in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and the formation of red blood cells.
Only bacteria have the enzymes needed for the synthesis of various forms of Vitamin B12. No fungi, plants, or animals can make vitamin B12. However, animal tissues significantly store vitamin B12, which is made from bacteria that they have consumed. This is the reason that meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and dairy foods are recommended sources of B12 in people's diets. Those of us who follow a vegan diet (no animal foods) are often told we must eat animal foods or risk developing deficiency of this essential vitamin. This is absolute nonsense. Bill and I see countless clients who are big meat eaters with B12 deficiencies.
Fortunately, we live in a world naturally populated with trillions of B12-producing bacteria. Plus our mouth and large intestine are very large reservoirs of B12-synthesizing bacteria. The various sources of bacteria in our environments supply sufficient amounts for most people, and as a result, actual cases of vitamin B12 deficiency disease due to lack of sufficient oral intake are very rare.
Following a delicious, diverse whole food plant based vegan diet is the way to go for optimal health. You will find 85 recipes in my latest book Go Vegan available world-wide on amazon or in bookstores. All my recipes have the perfect balance of omega 3 and omega 6 ratio. Hydrate, exercise, eat plants, get some sun, go vegan and enjoy life.
In good health
